Portia and Depression: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• February 6, 2020

For Birth Control "I don’t remember when Kaiser changed from Levora brand of birth control pills to Portia. But I know that since I started these pills, my life has sucked. Awful weight gain, I don’t eat bad at all and exercise 3-4 times a week. I have never had bad acne, now I get it on my forehead and chin all the time?? I feel depressed, not motivated to do anything, just want to sleep. I have really bad headaches, which is another thing I never really had prior to these pills. I am changing ASAP, and please, girl, for your sake, you should too!"

• Ris...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 16, 2019

For Birth Control "I was on Levora. I struggled with weight gain, anxiety, and depression regularly, but I didn’t think to connect it to my birth control. Then I was switched to Portia due to Kaiser discontinuing Levora, and the first month seemed okay. I thought my body just needed time to adjust. Then at the second month, I started getting migraines, then it was the serious weight gain, and my anxiety and depression went through the roof. I was extremely suicidal and dangerous not only to myself but anyone close to me as well. I was unable to function as a person anymore, and I decided to stop taking it. Within the first week, I felt like a new person, and my weight dropped dramatically as every week passed. It honestly scared me, and I will never use hormonal birth control again. Never again."

• Gra...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 23, 2019

For Birth Control "I was switched to Portia after Levora was discontinued. TLDR: It was not a cute look. I experienced wild physical side effects that I had not experienced with Levora. 1) My skin broke out into more acne than it has in years, and my cheeks were constantly red. 2) I started Portia the same time I got back into my old cardio routine and clean diet that typically maintains my weight. THIS BIRTH CONTROL MADE ME GAIN 20 POUNDS in a month. And I'm 23, so it's not because my metabolism is slowing down. 3) I'm bloated ALL the time and hate how this medication gives me a perpetual food baby. 4) I'm constantly nauseous. 5) But I'm also constantly hungry. Now for the psychological symptoms: 6) I got depressed so easily and intensely, in a way that I had never been before and ended up being sent to the psychiatric ward for the first time."

• k19...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 23, 2018

For Birth Control "Started taking Portia about 2 months ago. Had to stop because I was not myself at all! Felt like a cloud was over my mind at all times. Caused extreme anxiety, depression, and mood swings. Lost friends and broke relationships. After 2 days of accidentally not taking it, I noticed I felt like myself again and refuse to go back on. Please watch your body and your mental response-don’t want anyone to have to go through this because of a silly pill!"

• Ros...
• January 7, 2019

For Birth Control "This product should be banned! Everything that can go wrong will go wrong! Painful abdominal cramping all day, every day, breast tenderness and heavy pain in breasts, dramatic mood swings, intense depression, cramping during sex, yeast infections, dry skin and scalp itch, numbness in arms and legs, heart palpitations. It is taking STOP IMMEDIATELY and talk to your doctor. I was put on this without my consent!"

• Fed...
• November 3, 2018

For Birth Control "I have never experienced anything more awful. I was taking Levora, and I loved it, but then it got discontinued, and my insurance switched me to Portia. At first, I took two months of it and felt terrible. My breasts were so tender and hurting all the time, I had chest pains constantly and thought I had heart problems. I was incredibly moody and got sad or upset for no reason pretty often. I took a month break from it, but then felt like I had no choice to get back on since my insurance didn’t cover anything else, and things got worse. I have been getting panic attacks, feeling depressed and even suicidal, not acting like myself, shutting everyone out, and I finally realized that this drastic change is because of my birth control. It’s messing up my hormones and my mental health, and it’s just not worth it. I cry all the time and feel so empty inside, and I’ve never experienced this sort of helplessness before. Please don’t take this pill."

• Sof...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 29, 2018

For Birth Control "I switched from Levora to Portia about two months ago because Levora was discontinued. It is by far the worst two months. I have had a dramatic increase in acne. Levora really helped my acne, but with Portia, I am having constant breakouts everywhere. I have chronic headaches and feel very nauseous in the mornings. I feel an increase in my appetite. I tend to feel very down most of the time-sad for no reason. I am very unhappy being on this birth control."

• Aua...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 9, 2018

For Birth Control "I had been on Levora for about ten years when my pharmacy switched to Portia. I was told it was the same thing (generic version), but my experience says otherwise. I took it for about two weeks when I started noticing I was VERY gloomy/sad/easily triggered. I wasn’t as resilient as I normally am. I also started bleeding during sex and was so disturbed by it I almost fainted (I never bleed during sex and basically got my period out of the blue). I would NOT advise anyone to take Portia - the gloominess/hopelessness feeling I got from taking it is enough to make me quit oral birth control altogether. I’m really struggling to find a solution."

• Aua...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 9, 2018

For Birth Control "I had been on Levora for about ten years when my pharmacy switched to Portia. I was told it was the same thing (generic version), but my experience says otherwise. I took it for about two weeks when I started noticing I was VERY gloomy/sad/easily triggered. I wasn’t as resilient as I normally am. I also started bleeding during sex and was so disturbed by it I almost fainted (I never bleed during sex and basically got my period out of the blue). I would NOT advise anyone to take Portia - the gloominess/hopelessness feeling I got from taking it is enough to make me quit oral birth control altogether. I’m really struggling to find a solution."

• Dis...
• October 31, 2019

For Birth Control "I, like many others, was previously on Levora and was switched to Portia (without my consent) by Kaiser. Levora was my first experience with BC, and I took it for a little over a year. My only issue was prolonged spotting if I missed a dose. Once I was given Portia, I gained a little over 30 pounds in less than 4 months, I had frequent headaches, extreme fatigue (had to use my lunch break to nap daily), woke up nauseous every morning, and experienced the only 2 yeast infections I have ever had. Unfortunately, it took me about a year to realize Portia was the culprit. Since they told me it was the same when I switched, I never even suspected. I felt like a failure for gaining weight and not being able to get it off, I was frequently depressed, and my work suffered because I was often too tired to focus. Because of this thread, and my other research, I stopped taking Portia about a week ago and just opted to purchase Levora through an online BC provider NuRx."

• Mra...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 12, 2019

For Birth Control "I was reading a lot of these reviews and honestly can’t relate to most of them. Fortunately, I’ve had a fine experience using Portia except for one side effect. But I’ve been on Portia for about a year and a half and actually got randomly switched to another brand, in which I even requested to go back to Portia! I only get one day of cramps and a 3-day period, so it’s been nice. The one bad thing is the severe mood swings/depression I get the week before the placebo pills. At one point, I was starting to think I had bipolar disorder! (Before realizing this was due to the birth control). Thinking about switching to a new brand just because of that, but I may return to Portia in the future."

• dak...
• January 12, 2012

For Birth Control "I've been on birth control for over a decade and Levora for over five years with no issues. The past three months, the pharmacist has substituted Portia for my normal medication, insisting it was the same. In the first month, I noticed severe pain and bloating with my period; the following two months brought bouts of depression, rage, and hysteria. If you are prone to depression, avoid this medication. Additionally, I lost my appetite almost completely and probably ate less than 1,500 calories a day, and gained weight! Four days ago, I switched to Syeda (a Yasmin generic) and already I feel better - and my libido has improved."

• Ren...
• January 3, 2020

For Birth Control "I’ve been taking this pill for around 8 months now, and it has turned my world upside down. I now have random, crazy migraines. I am extremely irritable and depressed all the time. I am gradually gaining weight despite lowering my calorie intake. My acne has gone from mild to severe. Don’t think these comments are a joke, I wish I listened to them 8 months ago. I’m quitting this pill tonight."

• DoU...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 1, 2019

For Birth Control "One of the worst BC pills I have ever been on. Took it for 8 months. The only pro - I didn't get pregnant. Everything else was a con, here is the following: severe - migraines, PMS (PMS would be almost a month long), mood swings (to a point of psychosis & paranoia), depression & anxiety, cystic body acne (vile). Complete loss of libido, made my current partner seem repulsive. Weight gain (I gained 15 pounds!) greasy skin & hair, constant dermatitis and dry patches of skin. Would make me bloat before and during my periods immensely. Did not matter if the periods were 'lighter' considering the PMS, and bloating was so bad to a point of needing to take time off work. I started getting horrible gingivitis on this pill, bad breath & garnered over 6 tooth cavities after 6 months of being on this pill. I never get cavities. Once I went off this pill, all of these disgusting and unfortunate side effects went away. If a GP prescribes you this pill, say no."

• Jan...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 14, 2019

For Birth Control "If I knew how I would react to this, I would have opted to not be on anything. It took me almost a year to figure out all of my strange new ailments are from Portia. I’ve only gotten yeast infections from antibiotics in the past, but I have had them almost constantly for the year that I have been on this. Depression is bad anyway, but now it is horrible, weird hair growth, discharge from everywhere the warning label says, and I think it is even doing something horrible to my fingernails. I am put on a new brand of pill every year because they always quit making the ones I like or because my insurance is my doctor now. Don’t let a nurse prescribe birth control to you."

• Gyp...
• March 18, 2013

For Birth Control "As soon as I started taking Portia, everyone around me started noticing a huge change in my attitude. In the tiniest minor fights my boyfriend and I would get into after 2 months of taking Portia, and we had been together fight-free for 5 months, I would start crying out of nowhere. I have been on Portia for 7 months now, and I'm depressed all day, I just think of negative things all the time. If something goes wrong, whether or not it has something to do with me, I immediately start thinking it's my fault. As far as acne and weight gain, I haven't noticed much of a difference."

• NoP...
• May 30, 2019

For Birth Control "Last year, I was switched to Portia. I had changed my BC because of my insurance. I felt like my insides wanted to fall out. My hair started thinning. I was always tired. I was so depressed. I could not hold back my tears. I did not think my BC was the problem. I also had an abnormal PAP for years. Now all of a sudden, I am abnormal? I continued to take Portia for a year. After a year of major depression, I then started spotting ALL the time. I spotted after sex. I had such heavy periods I would have to leave work after only wearing a tampon for an hour. Since I have stopped, my periods are short. I don't have weird brown spotting. I don't get emotional as much! Portia sucks! I dislike what you have done to my life in just a year. I gained 40 pounds in less than 4 months. I cried myself to sleep for nights. Now I might have cervical cancer? Every year I get checked? And after less than a year with Portia? I might have cervical cancer?"

• Nik...
• October 12, 2016

For Birth Control "I have been on 3 different types of birth control since I was 15. I am now 21, and I wanted to be able to skip my periods, so my doctor put me on Marlissa, and then they discontinued it, so I got switched to Portia. I was only on Portia for just a month, and I hated it!! I was very moody and felt sad. I was hungry, and it made me very, very bloated. I was getting bad migraines as well. The worst was when I got my period, it started off not normal than what it usually is for me, and it was the worst cramps I have EVER experienced! I suggest trying a different birth control like Tri-Sprintec or Tri-Linyah (which I am now on)."

• Iha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 26, 2018

For Birth Control "Please beware, do not take this like everyone here has said. Levora was discontinued and was given Portia. I’ve been taking it and it has recently affected my daily life. They should really take this off the market permanently! It has made me depressed and bipolar. I don’t want to do anything for myself or my family. I get massive headaches, and I’ve gained so much weight, it sucks. I'm going to get off of it permanently. I hate it so much... please stay away from this birth control!"

• Sup...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 13, 2020

For Birth Control "I came here to say-OMG-the weird brown discharge?? Yeast infection even while taking probiotics? The massive bloating! The insatiable cravings! Moodiness and depression out of nowhere?? No thanks. I will deal with my PCOS."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 23, 2019

For Birth Control "This is the worst birth control I’ve been on. I switched to Portia from the BC shot due to bleeding for 3 months straight. It’s been one week since I’ve been on this pill, and I have already had 3 mental breakdowns. I’m extremely emotional and am easily triggered, and once I start crying, I literally cannot stop. Other than my mental health, this birth control has stopped my bleeding, and I haven’t had any physical adverse effects."

• Aan...
• February 19, 2019

For Birth Control "This pill is awful! I was switched from Levora. I have been dealing with a ton of depression and anxiety, increased blood sugar, and 10 lb weight gain within the first 2 months. Will be switching ASAP!"

• Nek...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 18, 2018

For Birth Control "I feel absolutely terrible. I have painful breast pains/tenderness, pelvic pain. I've been super anxious and depressed, the nausea is my worst effect. I could eat normally and still feel nauseous. I wake up and feel nauseous. I recently spotted for the first time, and it sucked. I've never had such a terrible period. For my first month, it caused heavy bleeding and painful cramps. It also hasn't affected my sex drive, but the discharge is horrible, I'm always wet. Also, recently, as of these past two weeks, I've been diagnosed with a yeast infection and vaginitis, and yesterday I went to urgent care, and they did x-rays to find out the pills' hormones have been causing me to be constipated - making my stomach growl after literally anything I eat. I get gas/bloating, so everything has been building up inside me causing the pelvic pain on my left side. Now, the only good effects are I've been losing weight, and my acne got somewhat better. I hope to switch brands soon. I hope this information helps someone."

• Que...
• September 8, 2022

For Birth Control "I was given Portia as a birth control option because I didn't want to have any more children at the moment. I started to suffer from severe depression to the point of a suicide attempt, I had severe anxiety and mood swings. Seven months into using the birth control, I stopped bleeding excessively, and it turns out I developed a serious amount of fibroids on my uterus to the point that I had to have a total hysterectomy at the age of 34."

• Lex...
• October 17, 2013

For Birth Control "I have been on Portia for a couple of months now, and I noticed I've been super depressed and overly tired. I went from a good 7/8 hours of sleep and now sleep for 10/11 a night and still feel the need to nap in the evenings. I also suddenly became uninterested in studying and lazy. I've also been vomiting out of nowhere and I'm not sure if it's because of the pill. I've taken a few pregnancy tests and they are negative. Plus, my boyfriend is always away at camp, so it's already a low risk of me getting pregnant anyway."